posted March 21, 2012 04:08 AM            

I'm writing in response to your post below on the Neptune thread.

quote:

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Ami Anne,

With all due respect, and you know I love you, I cannot ignore a problem that threatens others. It's not about my ego. I'm thinking of other members and doing what I wish someone else had done for me- sticking my neck out and saying, "That is not acceptable." In the hopes of fixing the problem BEFORE they get hurt.

But as I said, if I am disagreement with the community, I will leave.

No hard feelings.

Goodbye, and I truly wish you all the best.

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Please ... listen to me. I know you have enough wisdom to, 'cause you have Venus trine Saturn plus all the goodness of Venus conj. Neptune (the best of both worlds imo lol). So I’m now going to appeal to both your Saturn and Neptune aspecting Venus.

First, please don’t freak out at the length of my letter.

I’m stinting on sleep tonight so I can write you. I hope you will see it as a sign of caring.

Please do not take offense at anything I'm about to tell you because absolutely none is intended.

I've read your posts all over and my own Neptunian impression of you is that you are a gentle, sensitive, woman, one who has the courage to show her feelings and fight for what she believes is right.

This trait is to be admired 'cause not enough people care sufficiently, imo. However, I think you will agree that the WAY one fights is also supremely important. And that varies from situation to situation.

In this case, I think it was important that you voice your concern directly to Saggi just once and then let it go. This could have been done preferably privately or in some other appropriate forum-I’m sure Randall would have guided you in this matter.

I think you yourself realized that by starting that thread on Preserving an Atmosphere of Trust you made matters worse, because, seen from the other side, it must have shamed and embarrassed Saggi. This is a no-no 'cause shaming another human is never an act of compassion, regardless of whether or not you believe you’re right. I know you probably didn’t think of this before hand.

If you're still with me then I'm grateful and I ask that you continue to read without thinking that I'm about to attack you, 'cause I really think you need to consider the following:

So ... to begin with, I'm puzzled as to why you're not trusting Randall as Web Master and Ami Anne as Moderator to handle the whole thing.

I mean, w/in a family (and I think of LL as a virtual family) don't you think it's best (and also respectful) to allow senior members to make final decisions, and for the rest of us to abide by those decisions, regardless of whether or not we personally like them?

And if a junior member decides to take it upon him or herself to enforce a policy, how far will that member succeed and how is this going to be viewed by other junior members?

You are, in essence, negating the authority of Randall and Ami Anne by taking this matter into your own hands, which does not make them look good to others. Do you get my point?

Besides, once you started that Atmosphere of Trust thread, both Randall and Ami Anne supported you. However, the backlash had already started and seeing this, Ami Anne used her wisdom and asked for it to be quickly closed. This was very wise on her part, because, the backlash against your action would have mounted and you would have suffered. So she was actually protecting you by closing the thread.

So you had both Randall’s and Ami Anne’s support and protection. In return do you not think you can trust them to make decisions that are in the best interest of everyone concerned? Don’t you think you owe them at least that much respect and gratitude instead of getting miffed at them when they correct you?

Please, please don’t think I’m being harsh toward you, ‘cause I wouldn’t be sitting up till almost 4 am writing this if I didn’t care.

From my own repertoire of everything I've learned from my parents (and still continue to) and from my own experiences, there are some things that are always worth considering I feel, and I'm going to ask you to let me share them with you tonight. Hopefully, by reading through your heart will soften as you consider them.

1) Even after battle lines have been drawn and you are facing the enemy, always pause to ask yourself, "is this battle worth it?" and "what do I stand to gain?" If the gain is only to your ego, then WALK AWAY, because the pursuit of an unworthy battle will only cause you to lose in other, more important ways.

2) Yes, you're always entitled to express yourself appropriately, but doing it once is usually good enough. After that it is wise to let the matter go. No matter how people react to what you've said, inside they will always consider. Trust me they usually do.

3) If you must fight, then always do so fairly … like, never use a hatchet to kill a butterfly. What’s the point? You’ll expend needless energy and won’t feel good within your own conscience afterward. Not feeling ok w/ our conscience is the same as becoming our own worst enemy, imo.

4) If you can, try to win the fight by ‘killing’ your opponent w/ kindness. Believe me it works wonders . My Mr. Pisces moon (Taineberry’s nick name for my SO and I love it) and I sometimes go at it (oh yes, this seemingly placid Taurus can get worked up). But when we’re done he almost always says, “you’re killing me w/ kindness.” It’s an unfailing little trick I have that I’m sharing w/ you.

5) In a disagreement w/ another individual, always let the other person maintain their dignity. Never take that away from them. This is the real meaning of the Hindu greeting ‘namaste,’ meaning, “I salute the divinity in you.” I’ve seen you use it in your posts and it’s beautiful.

6) One can never resolve a problem by condemning it. I believe that for every problem in the Universe, there is also a solution. And the solution, especially for interpersonal problems, lies w/in our own spirit. But we cannot access this solution if we condemn the problem, because through condemnation we close the door to our own spirit.

7) I try to keep in mind the following quote- (can’t remember the author-I would have to dig up the book I read it in a while back): “Between action and reaction lies human freedom.” This quote has stuck in my brain so deeply that every time I’m confronted w/ something unpleasant, I automatically recall it.

I don’t think I can end this letter without mentioning Saggi

I know a lot of members see just her manner and often read too much into her words. But consider this: On a regular basis, since she joined in January, she has been going into every thread, quickly reading the posts and answering as succinctly as she can, in the interest of time, before moving on. To those who are awaiting replies to their posts, she is a blessing ‘cause she not only answers, but also routinely provides the necessary forum or web references. And a lot of the time she answers the same questions over and over again, without complaining. IN ADDITION, she regularly creates documents in the basic forum for members to access.

The amount of ground she covers daily on LL is impressively awesome! Imo, this is efficiency at its best. How many of us could do this? I know I couldn’t. She has her little system working like a tight ship. AND she isn’t getting paid for it. Her only gratification is to get people hooked on astrology. She has been very clear about this from the beginning.

So should we really be complaining that she doesn’t stop to chitchat or say socially nice things, or doesn’t use the right words that we’re used to hearing, or is sometimes a little short because she has other members to attend to, not to mention, conduct her own private life? I mean should we really be critical of her complete focus and attention to teaching astrology?

Again, should we not give her due respect for this tireless service to LL to which she’s an absolute asset, imo? Personally, to me she is a senior member, regardless of when she joined, because she’s a powerhouse of information and knowledge, which she takes an absolute delight in sharing.

Lastly, I know you’ve been protective of Ami Anne these last few days, but again, do you not think Ami has her own brand of wisdom? I see her Cancer moon picking out just the right moment to handle things in just the right way.

Case in point: a few days ago, Saggi and Ami were together on one of the threads. Saggi reacted just a tad bit sharply to one of the members’ responses by asking if this member was trying to make trouble. Ami gently (note the operative phrase, gently) responded that the member was cool (asking Saggi in her own unique way to chill). Saggi then relaxed and said, “chalk this one up to Merc. Retro.” I laughed.

But as I saw this unfold, I also felt completely inspired ‘cause I saw two senior members interact in the best way possible as humans. I also saw that Saggi is protective of LL ‘cause she had no hesitation in asking if the member was trying to create trouble. That day especially, I was proud to be a member of the LL community.

So you see, Faith, you’re a member of a very worthy internet organization, where the members are kind and helpful and from whom you can learn a lot of astrology, plus, imo, understand and find a way to assimilate conflicting energies which generally reside in each one of us. One cannot get this type of help from even the best therapists.

I hope that you can put aside your difference of opinion and continue to enjoy your time here. I know that I’m not the only one to have noticed your special brand of goodness and flavor. It comes out clearly in your posts.

If nothing else, I’m hoping that the sheer length of this letter will wear you down to the point of capitulating … like torture from water dripping on your forehead one drop at a time lol. I know I can use a lot of words. For this reason, I’m sure my posts on LL get a lot of eye rolls from senior members whom I keep dogging for answers.

Anyways, I hope I’ll be seeing your posts again soon.

From one Venus-trine-Saturn to another.

posted March 24, 2012 12:16 PM            

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Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal

posted March 24, 2012 12:26 PM            

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Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal

posted March 24, 2012 12:57 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Randall:
I didn't edit it, and I'm pretty sure Lalalinda didn't either. Our server is spiking, so most likely the posts vanished. It's a shame as a lot of Linda's efforts were on this string. As for you, Saggi, you have left the Basic Forum in a cluttered mess for me to deal with...knowing that I am dealing with the issue of my girlfriend in the hospital. I wonder what it is in your chart that causes you to lack empathy for others?

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it has absolutely 'nothing' to do with lack of empathy.I feel for your situation, I really do. But as this witch hunt gains pace, I am expecting to be banned shortly and am simply withdrawing with what I brought to the forum --- which was a LOT

these 'glitches' in the forum seem rather convenient and repititous.... hmmm not suggesting anything, just making an observation...

with regards Basic forum, leave it until you feel upto it, don't put any more pressure on yourself because of what I've done. unless you are trying to 'guilt me out' over this

posted March 24, 2012 01:05 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Ami Anne:
Saggi
If you want to grow as a person and you have many people telling you the same thing i.e that you seem to lack sensitivity/empathy to others, why don't you go within yourself and try to face yourself, rather than outward with anger toward others? That way, you can grow and change here as we most do if we have been here any length of time. I went through so many kinds of fights/trials/ uproars etc etc that they can't be counted but I wanted to face myself more than I wanted to be right. You have the choice to leave or have the guts to face yourself and stay. We all have been in your position of being embarrassed. This will all pass Saggi dear

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You know one word from Randell's unfortunately circumstances and you 'jump on the bandwagon and call me for, " lack sensitivity/empathy to others" DITTO back to you! Just a momenet while I get a mirror!

"or have the guts to face yourself and stay"
It's NOT a question of guts at ALL, I'm just fed up of the bitching around here.

You are SO judgemental for a Christian it's unbeleiveable. then next post I see you do a U turn - what's that guilty conscience?